1 Samuel 26:8

1 Samuel 26:8 says,Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.  Abishai asked David for permission to stab Saul through just once with his own spear.  He said that this would be justified because God had delivered Saul into David's hand.  This was the second time that God had placed David in a position where he could have easily killed Saul, and since David had already been anointed as the new king, it would have been easy to justify doing so.  Just because God places us in a position to do something doesn't mean that we are to do it.  Verse nine adds, And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?  David told Abishai not to kill Saul, because no one should put their hand forth against the Lord's anointed.  We as followers of Christ should never be out to destroy those that God has placed in positions of authority in His church today.  Verse ten continues, David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.  David said that God would be in charge of when and how Saul died.  If we believe that someone needs to be removed from their position in the church today, we need to be in prayer about the situation but leave it up to God to control when and how they are removed.  Verse eleven concludes, The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.  David said that the LORD prevented him from destroying the LORD’s anointed, and then told Abishai to take Saul’s spear and water and they would leave.  If we truly believe that someone needs to be removed from a position of authority in the church today, and Saul after all was the leader of God's chosen people, there is nothing wrong with letting them know that we think so and maybe even that we had the opportunity to make it happen had we chosen to do so.  Verse twelve states So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul’s bolster; and they gat them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the LORD was fallen upon them.  David took Saul’s spear and water and they left and they left undetected, because God had caused Saul and all his men to fall into a deep sleep.  We could contend that since God had done this that David should have killed Saul, but I believe that David was doing what he felt God was leading him to do.  We should never just take advantage of an opportunity, even if we believe that God has placed us in a position to do so without making sure that God wants us to do so.  Verse thirteen adds, Then David went over to the other side, and stood on the top of an hill afar off; a great space being between them:  David went to the top of a hill a great way off from Saul.  Verse fourteen declares, And David cried to the people, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, Answerest thou not, Abner? Then Abner answered and said, Who art thou that criest to the king?   David called out to Abner then asking if he were not Abner, the head of Saul's army.  Abner asked who it was that cried out against the king.  He didn't recognize David’s voice, nor did he know that David had been in the camp next to Saul, whom Abner and Saul’s men should have been protecting.  If we call out to those in power today under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, they may not recognize who we are to be doing so.  Verse fifteen adds, And David said to Abner, Art not thou a valiant man? and who is like to thee in Israel? wherefore then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? for there came one of the people in to destroy the king thy lord. David then asked Abner if he wasn't a valiant man and then asked him why he hadn't protected the king from those who could destroy him.  I believe that David may have been taunting them at this point, and don't believe this is something we should ever do.  Of course, it would once again prove that David was not trying to destroy Saul.  Verse sixteen continues, This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.  David told Abner that he deserved to die, because he had not kept Saul safe, and he offered the evidence of where Saul’s spear and water were as proof.  As Christians, we should always be alert and ready to defend the gospel and God's people, but I believe we are too often asleep on the job.